Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta today announced the appointment of current Chief of Department Frank P. Cruthers as the First Deputy Commissioner of the Fire Department and Peter E. Hayden as the next Chief of Department. As First Deputy Commissioner, Cruthers will oversee the Fire Department’s anti-terrorism efforts and lead the Safety and Inspection Command. As the FDNY’s 32nd Chief of Department, Chief Hayden will be the highest-ranking uniformed officer in the Department. He will be charged with the management of an 11,500-member uniformed force and other major bureaus including Operations, Fire Prevention, Training, EMS and Communications. Both appointments are effective immediately. The Mayor and Fire Commissioner announced today’s appointments at City Hall.

“It is my pleasure to announce two appointments that will further bolster the leadership of the greatest fire department in the world,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “With a combined experience of over 70 years in the department, Chief Cruthers and Chief Hayden have shown the commitment and dedication it takes to be New York’s Bravest. They have both risen through the ranks, exhibiting remarkable leadership during the department’s most trying times after September 11th and through its successful rebuilding efforts. I am confident that they will continue to lead admirably and by example in a department whose members continuously and courageously face new challenges and threats of terrorism.”

“Chief Cruthers and Chief Hayden each have more than three decades worth of experience and dedication to this Department. Under their leadership and guidance, the Fire Department has rebuilt its ranks and met today’s complex challenges head-on,” said Commissioner Scoppetta. “They have led by example – an example characterized by integrity, honor and dedication. They bring a wealth of experience as firefighters and fire officers and an intelligence and creativity that singles them out as great leaders. Chief Cruthers and Chief Hayden reflect the best of the Fire Department.”

Chief Cruthers is a 35-year veteran of the Fire Department. He is the first to have served two terms as Chief of Department – first in 1996 and again from 2002-2004. After graduating from the Fire Academy in 1968, he was assigned to Brooklyn, where he worked in Ladder Companies 110 and 120 for nine years before being promoted to Lieutenant and assigned to Ladder Company 105. He was promoted to Captain in 1983 and assigned to Ladder Company 143 in Queens.

Chief Cruthers continued to rise through the ranks, serving as Battalion Chief, Deputy Chief, Deputy Assistant Chief and Assistant Chief. He has served as the commanding officer for the Fire Department’s elite Special Operations Command, the Marine Division and as a Citywide Tour Commander. During his career, Chief Cruthers received a Fire Department medal and two other individual awards for meritorious acts of bravery. He is the son of the former Chief of Department Francis Cruthers, who held the position from 1978 to 1980, making them the only father and son to serve as Chief of Department in Fire Department history. Chief Cruthers and his wife Eileen have two sons, Frank and Scott and five grandchildren, Liam, Tyler, Hannah, Olivia and Cole. His nephew, George Young, is a firefighter in Ladder 4.

Chief Hayden is a 35-year veteran of the Fire Department.. After graduating from the Fire Academy in 1968, he was assigned to Engine Co. 207 in Brooklyn. In 1971, he transferred to Ladder Company 110 and in 1975 he was assigned to Rescue Company 2. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1979 and assigned to Ladder Company 3 in Manhattan. He was promoted to Captain in 1985 and served as the Executive Officer at the Bureau of Health Services. In 1987, Chief Hayden served as Captain of Ladder Co. 147 in Flatbush Brooklyn. In 1990, he was promoted to Battalion Chief and assigned to Battalion 2 in Manhattan. He was promoted to Deputy Chief in 1993 and assigned to the 1st Division in Manhattan. In 1995, he was promoted to Deputy Assistant Chief and designated Chief of Safety until 1997. In 1997, he returned to Division 1 and eventually became the Division Commander. In 2002, he was appointed an Assistant Chief and was Assistant Chief of Operations prior to his promotion to Chief of Department.

During his career, Chief Hayden has received five individual awards for meritorious acts of bravery. In 1986 he received the Department’s award for administrative excellence, the Leon Lowenstein Award, and in 2002 he received the Marist College President’s Award for professional achievement.

Chief Hayden has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business from Marist College. He and his wife, Rita have been married for 30 years and reside in Rockaway. They have 5 children, Rita, Katherine, Peter, Patrick and Mary and two grandchildren, John and Katherine Martin. His brother John is a firefighter in Engine 268, his son Peter is a Firefighter in Ladder 147, his son Patrick is a firefighter in Ladder 105, and his son in law, John Martin, is a firefighter in Ladder 103. His nephew Sean is firefighter in Engine 310.